Farmers Level of Satisfaction with Agricultural Extension Service and Its Determinant: In Case of Tenta Woreda, South Wollo Amhara Region, Ethiopia

Abstract

The degree to which smallholder farmers are satisfied with the agricultural extension services they get varies. Such diversity among farmers may be attributed to a range of economic, social, personal, psychological, and institutional factors. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to evaluate farmers' satisfaction levels with agricultural extension services and to examine the factors that influence farmers' satisfaction with agricultural extension services in Tenta district. A multi-stage sampling procedure was used to choose the 193 sample households in total. A structured interview schedule was developed, pre-tested, and used for collecting the essential quantitative data. Descriptive statistics such as mean, standard deviation, minimum and maximum, was used. In relation to statistical tests, one way ANOVA, F-value and Chi-square were applied. Results of the study indicated that the most common types of agricultural extension services provided to farmers in the study area are post-harvest handling, soil and water management, input delivery services, land preparation techniques, fertilizer application techniques, pesticide application techniques, irrigation techniques, and livestock production. The satisfaction level results indicated that majority of respondents were moderately satisfied with existing agricultural extension services in area. Moreover, results of ordered logit model indicated that education level of the household, family size, access to information; livestock holding of household in TLU and land size were significantly influenced farmers level of satisfaction with existing agricultural extension services. Based on the findings, provision of information in local language and strengthening adult education are essential recommendations to increase farmers’ satisfaction with agricultural extension services.